Technical the difference between something functional verses something functional and aesthetically pleasing..

about two days

 

Very easy on the eye!, and the car is pretty sweet too.

 

The XR-6 won America's most beautiful Roadster award at the 1963 Grand National Roadster show. Before and after photo. Functional and aesthetically pleasing to the judges in 1963.

 

It can take a lot more than two days to make something that works, look good

 

Ya, thought about this for a few years. Then cut and pieced it together, that was a couple of day’s. Still need to drill hole so trans mount will bolt up. But I haven’t finalized front to back setting of the engine. It’s in the plus or minus 1/4” range.

 

I didn't think it was even a "Hot Rod" then, and I haven't changed my opinion after 60 years.

AMBR? I think psychedelics were available even back then.

 

This very topic touches on something I've observed over many years. If you look at how some of the industry's finest cars of the era were engineered they can be very inspiring on many levels.
****ged from a Google img search:

This is the front engine mounting plate for a 33-4 Packard. The big slot to the right is for the lower radiator hose, the center rectangle holds a hard rubber isolator and retaining plate which did a masterful job at damping vibrations. The shape follows closely to the overall crank case and timing cover. Seen as an ***embly it's quite pleasing.

Not only Packard, but many of the fine cars have quite elegant solutions to things. As I started out saying, they can be very inspiring.

 

Building hot rods is about solving problems. Your solutions have to be functional, be safe but most of all please the eye. The last being the most difficult. I like my hot rods to flow without things that catch your eye. I appreciate hot rods that meet those criteria, because you know they weren't just thrown together.

 

To me, the Dusenberg engines were some of the most beautiful and highly functional engines of their time period.

 

Torpedoes away !

 

Works and works well can often be a matter of using engineering ,or just bolt it together like how you think you saw it before. Misread old photos n lazy builders have made some think they did it right,but did not. Steering is were the biggist number of screw ups,pop up..

 

Here's a little something, that Duesy engine. Up front about center of the crank, that's the oil fill. Behind that you can see a 'T' handle which is attached to the fuel pump diaphragm. Yes you can pull that to prime the carb. But in between there's a box with a tall polished fixture. Note on top of that, the 3 electrical connections. It's a clock. Well actually a timer filled with several gears that trip indicator lights on the instrument panel. Seen below:

At the ends of the panel you see 4 indicator lights. On the left the automatic ch***is lubricator is monitored, it lights up when it's doing its job, the light below indicates the pressure on the system and if it doesn't light you top off the ch***is lube container. On the right, 1 light tells you its time to change the oil, the other says time to check the battery water. This was developed in 1928. Not a simple solution but sure is pretty.

There's a lotta stuff in a Duesy to marvel at. Some elegantly simple, some unbelievable. In a Murphy Roadster the side windows are operated by a spring ***ist chain drive operated by the window crank. Lil Jimmy's bike may now be at risk...

 

This thread could also include how to keep your creation out of the " Rube Goldberg" category .
Smooth & simple win every time !

 

Something I spot on cars along with function and beauty is serviceability and building to the human who is working on it.

Certain car brands were famous for sharp edges in areas where hands needed to be underhood.

I watch modern exotic rebuilds on the tube and wonder why there needs to be 6 coolant connections or a vacuum system that looks like Detroit's worst from the 70s.

One that drove me nuts was a OT euro brand that had 8 bolts holding on the water pump. Okay, not everyone can do it with 4... But one of those bolts was behind the crank damper/pulley. Oh, and there wasn't enough room to remove it with the engine in place. You have to remove the motor mount bolts and jack up the engine to remove the pulley, to remove the water pump.

Back on topic, hiding things can be pleasing at first glance, but if it's difficult get to and service it's not the best it can be.

 

What car

 

Is this thought about cars or women?

 

Yes.

 

I think I should contribute something positive to this thread after ragging on the XR-6. Several years ago, I wanted to put a Mallory "Flattop" distributor on the flathead in my "Tub". I found the distributor and went through it, but couldn't find the proper "Trash Can" condenser for it. Realizing that I just could not bring myself to mount an ordinary FLAPS condenser on it, I decided to try to make my own "Trash Can". About 2016, I came up with something that was close, but wasn't quite "there". Anyway, I decided to make a final change that brought it to the point that I was satisfied with it. Here's a picture of a WH DuCoil (courtesy of @bchctybob) with a couple of my current condensers mounted on it. They have proven to be dead stone reliable, but the first ones didn't look nearly this good,

 

THIS:




VS. This:

 

Steering box mount, also the motor mount. Will have to drop the steering box to install the motor mount bolt.


Trans mount

 

Time...funny I just realized what 'two days' means now...

...Okay now that I got it...I present my aluminum glove box...you see my ride didn't have one...it has a 36 dash and gas axed tank...so I could have bought a $17 dollar pressboard one but as an aviation guy I felt an aircraft inspired one would better suit the theme even if you hardly see it...this cost more, took longer than 2 days and I even installed it...it looks right at home...














https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...rts-no-price-tags.767484/page-4#post-11864604

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...rts-no-price-tags.767484/page-4#post-12583579

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The more experienced I get, the more this concept is both visible and important to me.

The "just another black Model A" thread is full of examples.
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/just-another-black-model-a.1122429/

 

And for a hot rod, how about: Something functional, aesthetically pleasing, and LIGHT WEIGHT?

 

This thread by Von Hartmann is loaded with hand fabricated pieces that he did a phenomenal job on to look like they were cast.
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/freakin-a-60s-hot-rod-drag-coupe.643051/

 

I lost LIGHT WEIGHT and aesthetically pleasing a long time ago. I can feel some of the functional starting to slide , but I'm hangin' on for dear life..

 

I’m not sure what I like more, the Dusenberg or your explanation/knowledge of it.
Both are amazing.

 

Scrolling down though the posts there is a lot of truth in that statement. While you can knock something out in a few minutes that is fully functional. That extra time that is spent making the functional piece into something that is functional and fully asthetically pleasing usually takes far more time than money.

Von Hartmann's motor mount that Swade41 posted in post 27 is a work of art compared to the Ones a lot of us make or buy. These work and are solid but sure are not anywhere as close too cool as the ones Von Hartmann made. View attachment 5888471
Both function and both do exactly the same job in the same way but one is ground zero tech while the other is a cl***y and functional piece of art for the car.